Stanchion for handrail systems

ABSTRACT

A novel stanchion, for insertion into and support of a tubular post of a handrail system for installation on a horizontal surface, slope or staircase, is configured with a baseplate attached to a upwardly-extending column configured with at least one pair of identical enclosed vertical slot openings located on diametrically opposite sides of the column. In a first embodiment, the column is configured with only one such pair, extending between a lower web at the bottom end region of the column and an upper web at the top end region of the column. In a second embodiment, the column is configured with eight slots arranged in two quad slot sets, each set configured with two diametrically opposed slot pairs, each pair being vertically co-linear, separated by an intermediate web. The two intermediate webs of each quad slot set are aligned at a designated height made different for each quad slot set, thus the intermediate webs of the two sets are located offset from each other vertically. This offset, in conjunction with the two quad slot sets being located perpendicular to each other about the central vertical axis of the column, enables selection of either quad slot set for deployment at installation by rotating the column a quarter turn, thus facilitating installation by always enabling selection of a quad slot set whose intermediate web height does not interfere with a designated safety member location

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of handrails including indoor andoutdoor handrail systems installed over flat horizontal surfaces,inclined surfaces and stairs. More particularly, in stanchions forsupporting posts of handrail systems with code-required railingstructure including a lower safety member extending between posts., theinvention yields overall cost savings through structural simplificationand enhanced ease of installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/33,552 filed Nov. 5, 2014 for UNIVERSALBIFORCATED STANCHION FOR HANDRAIL SYSTEMS, and is incorporated herein byreference.

Handrails, whether above horizontal surfaces, sloping surfaces orstairs, are generally supported on a series of posts whose lower endsare fastened to the underlying base surface via some form of stanchion.As the structural “backbone” of a handrail system, the stanchion isrequired to withstand high levels of stress whenever the handrail isimpacted by strong external force. For child protection and publicsafety, building code regulations call for some form of safety grillworkor mesh extending across the space between the posts, typicallyextending down to a bottom safety member. Safety, building and coderegulations limit the separation between safety members, and also limitthe spacing between the bottom safety member and the underlying basesurface, thus raising physical interference issues since installation ofthe bottom safety member requires it to pass through the posts in thesame low end region already necessarily occupied by the stanchions.

Many different design approaches have been created to balance theconflicting demands of facilitating installation and meeting coderequirements while also enabling freedom in ornamental and architecturaldesign. Virtually all known handrail systems have as a common basis abottom safety member which is often implemented as a wire, rod, twistedor braided cable or equivalent, usually of metal, e.g. stainless steel,or alternatively, suitably strong plastics, fiberglass/epoxy, carbonfiber and the like. Commonly the bottom safety member is procured incontinuous length and passed through each post; typically requiringdrilling through the posts as required at installation.

If the post is hollow and based on an inserted stanchion, the stanchioncolumn must extend from a baseplate far enough up into the lower end ofthe post to ensure required overall handrail structural strength,especially to withstand strong lateral forces impacting the handrailregion, which by leverage, translate to extremely high compressive andbending stresses on the stanchions at the low end of the posts. Inpractice, the stanchion height is typically made to extend above theupper limit for height of the bottom safety member allowed by code,while the height selected for ornamental design purposes can range farbelow the code limit, consequently installation of handrail systemsusing stanchions of known art routinely requires drilling not onlythrough the hollow post walls but also through the (usually solid steel)stanchion column, a burden that makes installation very tedious,time-consuming and costly.

In practice of the present invention and the invention in the parentapplication, the stanchion columns are configured with clearance slotsfor through-passage of railing structure, typically cables, thusfacilitating railing installation by eliminating any need for drillingholes in the stanchions columns at installation as required inconventional known art.

For security purposes, the stanchion height is typically made to extendabove a bottom safety cable member of the railing structure, required bycode to be located within a limited elevation above the baseplate. Thesafety member height location selected for ornamental design purposescan range far below the code limit, requiring the clearance slots toextend vertically uninterrupted throughout a working range thataccommodates all potential cable locations in order to eliminate anyneed for drilling the stanchion column at installation.

In the parent application, the stanchion column is bifurcated to form apair of diametrically opposed clearance slots separating the two arcuatewall portions, as shown in the drawings As pointed out in the parentapplication, the stanchion column must extend far enough up from thebaseplate into the lower end of the post to ensure required overallhandrail structural strength, especially to withstand strong lateralforces impacting the handrail region, which by leverage due to theircantilevered location at the low end of the posts, translate toextremely high compressive and bending stresses on the stanchion.

As discussed above, bifurcated tubular stanchions require additionalreinforcement in the form of compression spacers such as internal plugs,sleeves or bushings interposed between the two arcuate walls. However,spacers cannot be affixed at an elevation that would interfere with thedesired location of the bottom safety member. The invention disclosed inthe parent application overcame this problem by utilizing tworeinforcement spacers and configuring the stanchion column with threepotential fixed spacer mounting locations, i.e. diametrically opposedhole pairs, each located at a different elevation, so that when aninstaller has established the desired location for the bottom safetymember, there will always be at least two of the three locations leftavailable for mounting the two spacers.

The downside tradeoff of the additional costs, i.e. for reinforcingcomponents and associated skilled labor installer time, left open theopportunity and challenge to seek further improvement, leading to thenovel solution and refined stanchion structure of the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention provide a stanchion with acolumn configured to allow through-passage of railing system membersincluding a bottom safety member, typically cables, with no need forstanchion-drilling at installation.

It is a further object to make the stanchion with sufficient strength toadequately support a post of a handrail system with no need foradditional reinforcing components.

It is a still further object to configure the column with a closed-endvertical slot pattern that provides a full and uninterrupted workingrange of elevation for a desired location for through-passage of arequired safety-member and of railing structure for ornamental andsafety purposes.

It is a still further object to provide an embodiment wherein the columnis tubular with wall thickness made sufficient to provide requiredstrength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects have been accomplished in the present invention byconfiguring the stanchion column with a plurality of enclosed verticalslots. In a first embodiment, the stanchion column is configured with apair of vertical slots located on diametrically opposite side locationsextending between a lower web at the bottom end region of the column andan upper web at the top end region of the column. In a secondembodiment, the column is configured with two sets of quad enclosedclearance slots, each set configured with two diametrically opposed slotpairs, each pair being vertically co-linear, separated by anintermediate web region, the pair otherwise extending, as in the firstembodiment, between a lower web at the bottom end region of the columnand an upper web at the top end region of the column. The twointermediate web regions of each set are aligned at a designated heightfor that set on the column, however this designated height is madedifferent for each set, thus the intermediate web regions of the twosets are located offset from each other vertically. This offset, inconjunction with the two sets being located perpendicular to each otherabout the central vertical axis of the column, enables selection ofeither set for deployment at installation by rotating the column(typically by rotating the stanchion) a quarter turn, thus facilitatinginstallation by always enabling selection of a set whose intermediateweb height does not interfere with a designated safety member location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a stanchion configured a pair ofvertical slots in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in a version for handrail posts of squarecross-sectional shape.

FIG. 2 is a left hand side view of the stanchion of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a right hand side view of the stanchion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stanchion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the stanchion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stanchion of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7-12, corresponding to FIGS. 1-6 respectively, depict a stanchionconfigured with two working quad sets of vertical slots in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front elevational view of a lower portion of ahandrail post assembled onto a stanchion of the present invention,traversed by a bottom safety member of the handrail system at a firstdesignated height above the stanchion flange.

FIG. 14 is a central cross-section of the post assembly of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a view of a lower portion of a handrail post assembled onto astanchion rotated ¼ turn relative to FIG. 13 and traversed by a bottomsafety member of the handrail system at a second and lower designatedheight above the stanchion flange.

FIG. 16 is a central cross-section of the post assembly of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a further enlarged front elevational view of a lower portionof a handrail post assembled onto a stanchion with a fixed-anglebaseplate for mounting onto a sloping surface.

FIG. 18 is a central cross-section a bolted two-part stanchion in thepost assembly of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a central cross-section of an alternative stanchion formounting onto a sloping surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a stanchion 10 configured a pairof vertical slots in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in a version for handrail posts of squarecross-sectional shape. A baseplate 10A and corner gussets 10D areattached integrally to an upwardly-extending tubular column 10Bconfigured with two enclosed vertical slots, of which a first slot 10C′is visible in this view.

FIG. 2 is a left hand side view of the stanchion 10 of FIG. 1 showingthe column 10B to be non-configured in this view.

FIG. 3 is a right hand side view of the stanchion 10 of FIG. 1 showingthe column 10B to be non-configured in this view.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stanchion 10 of FIG. 1 showing the column10B configured with a second enclosed vertical slot 10C″, visible inthis view.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the stanchion 10 of FIG. 1, showing the top endof square tubular column 10B and the square outline of baseplate 10A,with four fastening holes.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stanchion 10 of FIG. 1 showing baseplate10B with the four fastening holes.

FIGS. 7-12, corresponding to FIGS. 1-6 respectively, depict a stanchionconfigured with two working quad sets of vertical slots in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a stanchion 12, in accordance witha second embodiment of the present invention, showing in this view, abaseplate 12A attached integrally to upwardly-extending tubular column12B configured with a co-linear vertical slot pair 12C′ and 12D′,separated by an intermediate web.

FIG. 8 is a left hand side view of the stanchion 12 of FIG. 7 showingthe column 12B configured with a second co-linear vertical slot pair12E′ and 12F′as seen in this view, oriented 90 degrees, i.e. ¼ turn,from slots 12C′ and 12D′ of FIG. 7, separated by an intermediate webthat is located lower than that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a right hand side view of the stanchion 12 of FIG. 7 showingthe column 12B configured with a third co-linear vertical slot pair 12E″and 12F″ as seen in this view, co-axial with and diametrically oppositeidentical slot pair 12E′ and 12F′ of FIG. 8, and forming therewith afirst working quad slot set.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the stanchion 12 of FIG. 7 showing the column12B configured with a fourth co-linear vertical slot pair 12C″ and 12D″as seen from this viewpoint, co-axial with and diametrically oppositeidentical slot pair 12C′ and 12D′ of FIG. 7, and forming therewith asecond working quad slot set, oriented 90 degrees, i.e. ¼ turn, andhaving a higher intermediate web location relative to the first workingquad slot set (FIGS. 8 and 9).

FIG. 11 is a top view of the stanchion 12 of FIG. 7, showing the squaretop end shape of column 12B and the square outline of flange 12A, withfour fastening holes.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the stanchion 12 of FIG. 7 showing flange12B with the four fastening holes.

Both the first embodiment, i.e. with two slots as in FIGS. 1-4, and thesecond embodiment, i.e. with eight slots constituting two working quadslot sets as in FIGS. 8-10, can be practiced in versions with the columnportion made to fit known railing posts of any cross-sectional shape,including a rectangular or square post version as in FIGS. 5 and 6, orcircular as in FIGS. 11 and 12. Although the baseplates are typicallyshaped according to the post-column shape as shown, any column versioncan be practiced in conjunction with any baseplate version.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front elevational view showing the lower portionof a handrail post assembly with a hollow post 14 installed surroundingthe column of a stanchion according to the present invention, exposingonly the baseplate 10A. Although normally held in place by gravityalone, for added security the post 14 is preferably fastened in place onthe stanchion using epoxy or equivalent industrial adhesive. Also shownis a portion of a horizontal bottom safety member 16 traversing thepost-stanchion assembly.

FIG. 14 is a central cross-section showing safety member 16 passingthrough a pair of holes drilled in post 14 at the designated heightabove the flange 10A, and through two diametrically opposed slots 10F′and 10F″ the upper slots of the selected first quad slot set incolumn.10B. Slots 10C″ and 10D″ are of the unused second quad slot setwhich is unusable in this case because, as shown, its central weblocation is at a height that interferes with the designated heightlocation of safety member 16.

FIG. 15 shows the subject matter of FIG. 13 with the height of safetymember 16 designated to be at lower height above the flange 10A

FIG. 16 is a cross-section showing the stanchion having been rotated aquarter turn to select the second quad slot set, since the first quadslot set, as shown by slots 10E′ and 10 is now unusable in this casebecause its central web location is at a height that interferes with thelower designated height location of safety member 16.

FIG. 17 is a further enlarged front elevational view of a lower portionof a handrail post 14 assembled onto a stanchion having an angledbaseplate 18, for mounting onto a sloping surface.

FIG. 18 is a central cross-section of a first version of the postassembly of FIG. 17. A separate column part 18A is made with a closedbottom end with a threaded central opening engaged by bolt 20 holdingthe baseplate part 18A attached to column part 18A.

FIG. 19 is a central cross-section of a second version of the postassembly of FIG. 17.stanchion for mounting onto a sloping surface.Separate column part 22B is tubular with the bottom end open as shown.The top of baseplate part 22A is configured to extend upwardlyclose-fitted into column part 22B as shown and attached there withepoxy, industrial adhesive, pinning and/or bolting.

There are numerous variations possible in the flange portion 10B withwhich the principle of the invention could be practiced within itsspirit and scope, including outline shapes other than circular or squareas shown, integrated with or enclosed in underlying structure, e.g.embedded in concrete.

Regarding overall handrail system strength considerations: assuming agiven required width of slots 10D to provide a clear passageway for atraversing safety element, the main parameters in the design tradeoffsare the strength of the material of the stanchion and the wall thicknessof the column.

Increasing the column wall thickness up to the ultimate causes thecolumn to evolve from tubular to solid cylindrical; the slots becometunnel passageways traversing the solid column.

The invention may be embodied and practiced in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof.The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, and all variations, substitutionsand changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency ofthe claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stanchion, for installation into the lower endof a hollow post to form a post assembly of a handrail system whichincludes an inter-post bottom safety member of designated size passingthrough a pair of clearance holes drilled in the post at coaxiallocations on opposite sides thereof, comprising: a baseplate adapted forfastening to an underlying surface; and a column extending upwardly fromsaid baseplate, shaped to fit into the lower end of a hollow post,configured with at least one through passageway, sized and located toallow traverse of the bottom safety member, and terminated at oppositeends by a pair of identical enclosed vertical slots located at directlyopposite side surfaces of said column; the at least one throughpassageway being provided in such quantity and location that, atinstallation of the handrail system, at least one through passageway andan associated pair of surface-located slots is always available fortraverse of the stanchion and the post, so that there in never any needfor drilling the stanchion at installation.
 2. The stanchion as definedin claim 1, in a first embodiment, comprising: one and only one a pairof identical enclosed vertical slots, located at directly opposite sidesurface of said column, the slots extending between bottom an top webregions of said column, dimensioned to include a working range of heightlocations required by the safety member.
 3. The stanchion as defined inclaim 2 wherein said column is hollow and made with sufficient materialstrength and wall thickness to provide the handrail system withdesignated required strength.
 4. The stanchion as defined in claim 3wherein said column is made tubular with a circular cross-sectionalshape.
 5. The stanchion as defined in claim 3 wherein said column ismade square in cross-sectional shape.
 6. The stanchion as defined inclaim 2 wherein said column is made solid and said one throughpassageway is a tunnel having a cross sectional shape simulating theassociated pair of surface-located slots.
 7. The stanchion as defined inclaim 6 wherein said column is made tubular with a circularcross-sectional shape.
 8. The stanchion as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid column is made square in cross-sectional shape.
 9. The stanchion asdefined in claim 1, in a second embodiment, comprising: said columnconfigured with eight vertical enclosed slots arranged in two quad slotsets, each set configured with two diametrically opposed slot pairs,each pair being vertically co-linear, separated by an intermediate web,each pair extending between a lower web at a bottom end region of saidcolumn and an upper web at a top end region of said column; the twointermediate web regions of each set being aligned at a designatedheight, made different for each set, thus locating the intermediate websof the two sets at a vertical offset relative to each other; and thevertical offset, in conjunction with the two quad slot sets beinglocated perpendicular to each other about the central vertical axis ofthe column, enabling selection of either set for deployment atinstallation by rotating said column a quarter turn; wherebyinstallation is facilitated by always enabling selection of a quad slotset whose intermediate web height does not interfere with a designatedsafety member location.
 10. The stanchion as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid column is hollow and made with sufficient material strength andwall thickness to provide the handrail system with designated requiredstrength.
 11. The stanchion as defined in claim 10 wherein said columnis made tubular with a circular cross-sectional shape.
 12. The stanchionas defined in claim 10 wherein said column is made square incross-sectional shape.
 13. The stanchion as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid column is made solid and each through passageway is a tunnel havinga cross sectional shape simulating the associated pair ofsurface-located slots.
 14. The stanchion as defined in claim 13 whereinsaid column is made tubular with a circular cross-sectional shape. 15.The stanchion as defined in claim 11 wherein said column is made squarein cross-sectional shape.
 16. The stanchion as defined in claim 1wherein said baseplate is fixedly attached to said column in ahorizontal orientation for installation onto a horizontal underlyingsurface.
 17. The stanchion as defined in claim 1 wherein said baseplateis fixedly attached to said column at a designated angle forinstallation onto a sloping underlying surface.
 18. The stanchion asdefined in claim 1 wherein said baseplate is attached to said column byadjustable means for setting said baseplate at a designated angle forinstallation onto a sloping underlying surface.
 19. The stanchion asdefined in claim 9 wherein said baseplate is angled and is attached tosaid column by adjustable means for rotating said column relative tosaid baseplate for purposes of selecting a quad slot set.